R Ashoka
The action unfolded Friday when police moved to clear Bidadi-Harohalli main road, blocked since Sept 21 by farmers opposing the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project near Bairamangala. Bengaluru: A police operation to clear a blocked road at Bidadi has turned into a political row, after visuals of cops removing a Ganesha idol from a farmers’ protest site went viral, drawing sharp criticism from BJP against Congress govt. The protesters had parked tractors and bullock carts across the stretch and installed the idol at the site, where daily prayers were held through their ongoing hunger strike. Police cleared the obstructions and the idol to restore traffic, detaining several protesters including women farmers in the process. Union minister HD Kumaraswamy also visited Channapatna Police Bhavan after the farmers were arrested. During the visit, Kumaraswamy condemned the alleged police excesses against women farmers and gave the IGP and district SP two days to take strict action against the officials responsible. He later persuaded the protesting farmers at the police station to call off their agitation. They ended the hunger strike by eating fruit offered by Kumaraswamy.